For JaninaM8.

Jane paused. Why was he looking at her that way? And then she realized. She turned to the Light Elf, who hadn't seen Loki, nor would she have expected him to.

"Thanks for your help, I can manage," she smiled sweetly.

And before she knew what was happening, Loki was next to her. "Well, Jane. Who might this be?"

"Ah…" she began. She hadn't caught his name.

No need to worry, he smiled and supplied it. "I am Calder. And you…?"

Loki paused. "It matters not my name. What is of primary concern here is that you are offering your company to my companion."

"Look…" Jane began, but he shot her a harrowing look. Jane started at the glare, but did not waver. Instead, her nose went in the air, and she turned on her heel.

Loki sighed. He had better check himself. "Stay clear of us," he muttered to Calder, and began to go after Jane.

"And what if I don't? She is a pretty mortal…though she appears to be troubled. Perhaps I might offer her some comfort."

Loki turned with a snarl. His magic pulsed his anger. "If you know what is good for you, you will keep your opinions to yourself, your eyes in your head, and your tongue in place. I can make you very uncomfortable very quickly…if you so much as look at that mortal, she will be the last thing you will ever see, for I will take your eyes from you."

Calder's eyes in question narrowed as he watched Loki go after Jane. He thought it very odd that an Aesir would be so concerned over a mortal. Even more strange that a mortal was in Alfheim to begin with…they must be traveling together.

…..

Jane had gone outside for some more air. Loki was being ridiculous. First, no Erik. Now, absurd jealousy.

What more could she do to ensure that he knew she loved him and only him? Nothing, as far as Jane was concerned. Of course, there was the marriage thing. But he would need to be patient. She wasn't ready, and she wasn't going to enter into this lightly.

Jane sighed and swallowed; she ran her fingers through her hair and looked to the sky. She was fairly confident that she would say yes to Loki's proposal…but something more than the fact that their lives were chaotic was preventing her acceptance. It was this feeling that he knew something horrible was going to happen and he merely wanted to marry to have done before this horrible thing occurred. That, in Jane's mind, wasn't a good reason to marry.

It also scared the shit out of her.

"Jane…"

She took in a deep breath. "Yes?"

"Look at me."

She turned.

"Are you cross?"

"Yep."

Loki went over to her. "Dearest, please know that it pained me beyond measure to see you enter with that cretin."

"How do you know he was a cretin?"

"By virtue of my eyes."

"Oh please," and she turned and walked away from him. "You are just like everyone else, you know," she said over her shoulder as she reached a rail along a path from the tavern. The music still pounding its cadence in the background. "You think you know everything about someone by looking at them for a second."

"Not everything…" and he smirked.

"And how is that different from people assuming they know all about you since you are a Frost Giant?" Jane challenged him, and she saw the effects immediately.

His face fell. His eyes widened momentarily, then narrowed. His intake of breath was sharp. He appeared to be thinking about how to respond. Instead, he kicked some earth meekly, turned and walked away.

Jane was left there, a bit confused, and in truth, a bit concerned.

He wouldn't leave her there, would he?

Surely not.

Jane walked back into the tavern with a feverish look on her face. The door was heavier upon ingress, and she believed it was the weight of her conversation which had burdened her attempt.

Loki was at the bar, downing a drink. He didn't see her enter, too absorbed in the libation cleansing his mind of the poison of the dialogue with Jane.

His hands were shaking. His brow pearled sweat.

He hated that she was right. He hated that he couldn't hate her for it. He hated that his hatred was dulled beyond reasonable recognition. Why was he being so soft? Because of love?

He then looked up and saw her approaching him. He wanted to leave, to disappear and never return. He wanted to forget Jane Foster and everything that she stood for.

But he couldn't.

She was beside him now. "Wanna talk about it?" and she sat on the chair next to him.

He summoned another honey liquid and downed it in a gulp. "We have our lodgings upstairs for the evening."

Jane nodded. "So, no then…"

Loki looked away. "Not here…not in public, no." He took her hand and they were suddenly in a dark room. The music could still be heard softly thrumming, and Jane could smell the food from downstairs, the ruckus of intoxicated people…the smoke from whatever pipe-things the patrons were smoking.

She was sitting on a small but comfortable bed, the room was also small…there were two windows opposite the bed, and the smell of something akin to cedar, though it was muted from the other smells of the structure. Loki was standing and he waved his hand so that a few candles were lit, and Jane took in the rest of the room…

It was all wooden. There were two chairs by the window and a small table between them. To the right of the bed stood some bookshelves littered with books. A threadbare carpet lay on the floor, and a few pictures adorned the walls.

"I am not in the habit of defending Frost Giants, Jane."

She swallowed, looked at him, but said nothing.

He went to the window, then sat on one of the chairs. "Ordinarily, I would have taken your life for your indiscretion outside," he paused. "By ordinarily, I mean, some years ago. And it took quite a lot for me to fight that inclination, which is why I walked away."

At this, Jane stood. "You were about to kill me?"

"No. That is my point. I could never harm you, Jane. But my heritage is disgusting to me. To be reminded of it is painful, humiliating, and infuriating."

"It's me, Loki. Me. Stop being so stupid," and she turned and flopped on the bed and curled into a fetal position.

Loki swallowed and looked out into the Alfheim night. It was peaceful. Everything was lighter here. The fact that they were wanted by Odin and all of Asgard's might seemed of little consequence in this Realm. They were here. They would be seeing Erik tomorrow…"Jane?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry," it stung his tongue to apologize…he apologizing. It was ludicrous in the extreme, he would never have believed himself capable of falling so far.

Jane turned and looked at him. "You are?"

"I am."

"Ok," and she went to him, sat on his lap, and nuzzled his neck. "I'm sorry too."

He wrapped his arms around her and sighed.

This…this moment…was bliss.

He kissed the top of her head, and he picked her up and brought her to bed. Loki laid next to her, and without attempting to take her sexually, wrapped his arms and legs about her tiny frame and held her.

They fell asleep thus, with a soft song in the midnight air of Alfheim, with the heavy reverberating of hearts, with the hum of sleep holding them close…

And Jane dreamt of Asgard, and a blood red sky…and screams…and sound…and a thunder clap and a dove…green…and violet….

…she felt a soft kiss on her ear.

"Loki?" her voice laden with sleep still.

"Mmmm…Jane….it was tormenting to sleep next to you with the hindrance of clothing."

Jane giggled a touch and rubbed her eyes. "Morning," and she smiled to herself. She swung her legs over to the floor, Loki still holding onto her. "Erik today, right Loki?"

He let go and cleared his throat. "Yes. Erik Selvig today."

"Good," she leaned back and pecked his cheek, got up and went to the adjacent bathroom. "Can you send me my brush?" she called out. Her toothbrush, paste, and hairbrush appeared at the sink. "Thanks!"

Jane brushed and thought about her dream. It reminded her of the day on Asgard so long ago when Loki and she had made out in the garden and Thor came for him…he never went back for her…and when she looked out of the window…Jane recalled that the sky had bled red…

"Does a blood red sky mean anything, Loki?" she asked, re-entering the bedroom.

"Pardon?" he was laying prone on the bed, string at the ceiling.

Jane went over to him and sat on the edge. "Does a blood red sky mean anything?"

He looked at her crookedly. "Sunset?"

She smacked his arm. "No! I mean…you study the sky. You believe in fate…"

Loki took her hand. "Is the scientist asking me about what mysteries the sky holds in terms of a future?"

Jane was a bit abashed in her manner. "No, not exactly. I mean…"

"What?"

She traced circles in his palm. "I had a dream about a red sky, and the day you discovered your heritage, the sky was red."

Jane didn't see Loki's face pale more than was usual. She didn't see that his eyes went wide, that his brow furrowed, that he swallowed. "It means nothing, Jane."

"Oh," and by the time she looked at him, he had resumed his natural facial state. "Well…how long until we reach Erik?"

"Ah…" and he retrieved his hand and stretched.

"Loki…" her voice held an irritated sounding warning.

"What? We are seeing him, as you desire…however…" and he reached for her, his right hand on her breast. "We have some time as of yet."

He pulled her into the bed, and ravished her there.

Loki had asked her if she desired to be transported to Alphatia, but after she discovered the walk would only take an hour or two, she said no. She could take another couple of hours in this lovely place…

They walked along a sandy colored road with trees bent and with fragrant blooms, and Jane felt for Loki's hand to hold. "It is lovely, Loki…"

They reached Alphatia before luncheon, and Jane was captivated by its opulence. It positively glittered.

"The Light Elves are a magical race, are they not?" he asked her as they descended into the city proper.

"Yeah," Jane whispered.

She looked about, and this was what she saw:

The buildings seemed to be moving, as though they were liquid and alive. None were terribly tall, not like on Midgard, but were about three stories in height. There weren't many buildings, it wasn't Manhattan or London, but it was obviously a city. There were plenty of trees and such to quell the harsh metropolis feel. But the light! Jane recalled the light when they first arrived in Alfheim…the softness of it made the atmosphere glow. It was easy on the eyes, and though the light permeated every glance, it wasn't harsh in its presentation. There was a river which round its way through the city, she could smell the water in the air. The streets weren't paved, per se, but they weren't dirt nor gravel…

"What are the streets made of, Loki?" Jane asked, looking to the ground.

"It's called terra derma, or earth skin…many Realms use it."

It felt kinda like astroturf to Jane, but a bit bouncier. "Wow…" she stopped and looked around. It suddenly occurred to her that Erik could be anywhere. "Loki, how are we gonna find Erik?"

He stopped and turned toward her. "I was hoping you would know," but he smirked. "Dear Jane…do you not think that I would have sent him to a place I knew to be safe and where I might easily find him?" Loki led the way to what appeared to be a restaurant down a side street.

They walked in, and Loki went right up to a desk situated at the far wall.

He went to a male Light Elf and began a conversation with him while Jane stayed a bit behind him, her eyes wandering the room.

It was darker than she was used to for Alfheim. There was soft light, nearly dim, with wall sconces holding candles. Some other elves were sitting at tables, drinking and talking, perhaps having their midday meal. She heard Loki speaking, heard his voice rise somewhat, and her heart beat faster in turn.

Something was wrong, her mind told her.

Jane went over to him…"Is everything alright?"

His face froze and he turned toward her. "Aye, Jane. Erik Selvig is well…but he has been taken to a neighboring town."

"What does that mean?" she asked, a touch of worry skimming her breath.

"It means," began the Elf watching the pair. "That we thought that he was wither insane or a criminal mistakenly banished to Alfheim, so we took him into hospice."

"You thought he was sick?" Jane looked from the Elf to Loki.

"He was screaming on and on, as I understand, about some Asgardian imposter exiling him here, taking his kin from him…"

"Oh my god," and Jane glared at Loki. "We need to get to him…now."

Loki nodded. He swallowed. "Quite right, love," and he took her hand…

…the next thing Jane knew was she was standing in a sterile, white, bright hallway. It smelled like bleach.

And she thought that insane asylums must be the same in all of Yggdrasil.